'Other' QBs share stage as Dolphins open at Browns

ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 8, 2013 12:01 AM

In this Aug. 24, 2013 photo, Ryan Tannehill looks to pass during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Bucs in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defense appears stout, the receiving corps seems much improved and the addition of new rookies and free agents has buoyed optimism that the Dolphins are poised for a playoff push beginning with Sunday's opener at Cleveland. But to snap a streak of four consecutive losing seasons, the Dolphins will need for Tannehill to make significant improvement in his second NFL season. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)AP

ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 8, 2013 12:01 AM

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5 THINGS TO WATCH1. Opening woes: Season openers have been a nightmare for both teams, but especially the Browns.Since returning to the league in 1999, Cleveland is 1-13 in Week 1, an abysmal statistic made worse since the team is 1-12 at home. The Browns' lone win came in 2004, a 20-3 victory over Baltimore.The Dolphins, meanwhile, are just 1-6 in openers since 2005.2. Flying fish: The Dolphins added much-needed speed and big-play potential to their offense, signing wide receiver Mike Wallace as a free agent in March.Wallace, who scored 32 TDs the past four seasons with Pittsburgh, gives Ryan Tannehill a downfield threat and a nice complementary piece to Miami's passing game, which totaled just 13 TDs last season.3. Richardson's workload: The Browns will lean on Trent Richardson in 2013.The second-year back might be the most important player on Cleveland's roster. Richardson rushed for 950 yards last season, playing half of it with two broken ribs. And while new offensive coordinator Norv Turner favors a vertical passing game, his offense is rooted in the run, and Richardson could get 300 rushes this season.To do that, he must stay healthy."This year I'm not looking towards no injury, no broken fingernails, nothing," Richardson said. 4. Far from perfect: The 1972 Miami Dolphins, who went 17-0, finally got to make their long overdue trip to the White House this summer. While this year's squad is unlikely to win the Super Bowl, the roster has been overhauled, and expectations are high in South Florida.But with 17 new players on the 53-man roster, including all nine draft picks, patience will be at a premium. Youth, though, won't be an excuse."It's put-up-or-shut-up time for us," said offensive guard Richie Incognito. "There's no learning curve."5. No flash: The Browns will be without one of their best offensive weapons, as wide receiver Josh Gordon is suspended for the first two games for violating the NFL's drug policy.Without Gordon, the Browns will count on Greg Little, Davone Bess, who spent the previous five seasons with Miami, and second-year speedster Travis Benjamin to put pressure on Miami's secondary.-- from wire reports

CLEVELAND -- They were the "other" rookie quarterbacks last season.

Maybe it's Brandon Weeden and Ryan Tannehill's turn to shine.

They were members of a star-studded class that included Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson, each of whom led teams to the playoffs in their first NFL seasons.

Weeden and Tannehill labored last year for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, two franchises counting on their second-year QBs to make them contenders in 2013.

Today, they'll go head-to-head in the season opener, but it's not the first time they've played.

In college, Weeden led Oklahoma State to two wins over Tannehill and Texas A&M.

However, one of those came before Tannehill converted from wide receiver to quarterback, though Weeden might count the victory anyway. In fact, Weeden was 5-0 against Tannehill, Luck and Griffin in college. So far, he's 0-1 against those guys in the NFL, a mark he can even this week.

"I want to beat them playing checkers," he said.

Weeden and Tannehill both threw for more than 3,000 yards last season.

They're similar in size, and both have high-powered arms and are prototypical pocket passers. Also, both QBs -- fairly or unfairly -- will forever be judged because they were drafted the same year as Luck, Griffin and Wilson.

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin just wants Tannehill to be himself.

"What I'm looking for from Ryan this year is improved decision-making, better ball accuracy and playmaking abilities at critical times in a game," he said. "Beyond that, I'm not concerned about how other people compare him to Andrew Luck, RG3 or anybody else. I am concerned about how well he plays for the Miami Dolphins, though."